Maria Martinez

Maria T. Martinez VIRGINIA BEACH - Maria Teresa Martinez, 79, of the 600 block of Aylesbury Drive, passed away Nov. 25, 2008. Mrs. Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, July 12, 1929, to the late Jose Martinez and Angelina Radillo Martinez. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Jose Angel, Rodolfo and Enrique Martinez. She served as director for The Virginia Beach Ballet Academy for 25 years and memberships in the Spanish American Club, El Club Hispano Americano de Tidewater, Norfolk Civic Ballet, Tidewater Ballet Association, Virginia Beach Conservatory of the Arts and St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church. She also worked numerous beauty pageants at the Philippine Culture Center. Survivors include a daughter, Ana Maria Martinez and her husband Manuel Antonio Palacios; a granddaughter, Angela Maria Palacios; special in-laws, Pilar Martinez of Virginia Beach and Dr. Leo Ladaga and his wife Adela of Miami, Fla.; and many other loving family and friends. A celebration of Mrs. Martinez's life will be held Saturday, December 13, 2008, at 2 p.m. in Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home. A reception will follow in the funeral home. Inurnment will be private. Memorial donations may be made to Virginia Beach Ballet Academy, 5465 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA, 23462. Friends may send tributes to her permanent memorial at www.mem.com.